Christmas Tree Nebula

 

Object Type: Emission Nebula
Scope: Orion APO 80mm
Exposure 190 minutes

 

 

NGC 2264 is the designation number of the New General Catalogue that identifies two astronomical objects as a single object: the Cone Nebula and the Christmas Tree Cluster.

 

Two other objects are within this designation but not officially included: Snowflake Cluster and the Fox Fur Nebula.

All of the objects are located in the Monoceros constellation and are located about 800 parsecs or 2600 light-years from Earth.

 

NGC 2264 is sometimes referred to as the Christmas Tree Cluster and the Cone Nebula. However, the designation of NGC 2264 in the New General Catalogue refers to both objects and not the cluster alone.